The Dark Side of the Earth: January 22nd, 2011

This week I’ve been making revisions to the latest script draft, based on Quay’s notes. When you have spent this long working on a screenplay, you can’t see the wood for the trees, and I can’t tell you how great it is to have someone else give you a list of the things that need changing, rather than having to figure it out for yourself.
Lately I’ve been reflecting a lot on how dramatically the script has changed since I wrote the first draft in 2005 (between lighting set-ups while I was DPing a student film). Some of the things in it which were then very important to me have been eroded and in some cases removed altogether.
But the things that are important to me as a person have changed in the last six years too. I’ve got married, which inevitably alters my attitude towards the romantic elements in the script. It also makes my portrayal of women in the story more realistic, since I have one on hand to consult. And Katie’s period working for the Union of Concerned Scientists has opened my eyes to environmental issues, which have found their way thematically into the script. And of course I’ve shot the pilot, giving me the kind of insight into how it all works on camera that is normally only afforded to TV writers.
Whilst out searching for furniture bargains yesterday (ah, married life!) Katie helped me to work through a problem with Old Father Time’s motivation. What was great is that we were able to bring it back to one of the most common ideas of this character in mythology: the image of an old man who transforms into a baby on New Year’s Eve. Carl often says that in a fantasy film, it helps to tie your made-up world to existing made-up worlds, i.e. well-known mythology, and when you can figure something out like that it really strengthens the story.
So the script has evolved – for the better. Today it has a stronger, more logical plot, more defined characters and a richer – but not exclusionary – subtext of themes, literary references and mythological roots than it ever has done. Not to mention the fact that I’ve finally figured out what the sequel would be about, and let’s just say: Pink Floyd may sue.

The Dark Side of the Earth: January 22nd, 2011